HELP 6yr old MIght repeat Kindergarten? because of Not knowing how to READ much, Need to help her learn quick?

Question

hi i am so worried my 6 year old daughter is in kindergarten and she doesn't know how to read much only one word at a time, not sentences, and the teacher says she might have to repeat kindergarten.

school ends on may 25th so we have about 2 more months to work with her, please let me know what kind of books or tips will help us with my daughter, I have to help her pass grades, since it would be sad to see her repeat kindergarten, and I had no idea kindergarteners needed to know how to read, I mean when i was in kinder all we did was play it was more like a pre-school, anyway let me know Thanks in advance

HELLO EVERYONE AND THANKS FOR YOU ADVICE I WANTED TO ADD THAT MY DAUGHTER WENT TO A PRE-K PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN A PRGRAM CALLED ESE? EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION, THEY KNEW THAT HAD A LEARNING DISABILITY AND THE PRE-K TEACHER THOUGHT SHE WOULD DO WELL IN REGULAR KINDERGARTEN, THEY SAID THEY WOULD TEST HER OUT IN REGULAR KINDER, HOWEVER WHAT I DONT UNDERSTAND IS THAT WHY IF THEY SAW SHE HAS DIFFICULTIES WHY NOT PUT HER IN SOME SORT OF SPECIAL ED CLASS, I MEAN SHE IS DOING WELL IN MATH AND OTHER SUBJECTS OTHER THAN READING BUT I THINK BY LAW THERE MUST BE SOMETHING I COULD DO I MEAN WHAT IF HER READING DOESNT IMPROVE WILL SHE JUST KEEP REPEATING KINDER? THIS MAKES NO SENCE TO ME AT ALL, AND I AM SO UPSET ABOUT THIS SINCE WE HAVE TRIED TO HELP HER AND READ HER BOOKS, HER COUSIN IS 8 AND ALSO HAS A LEARNING DISABILITY, HOWEVER HER MOM DIDNT CARE MUCH AND SHE KEPT REPEATING GRADES AND I DONT WANT TO BE A CARELESS MOM, ANYWAY WE HAVE A METTING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND HOPEFULLY THERE IS

Answer 1

Nothing is wrong with her. Remember that.

You are worried, which means you are a parent who cares.

Back off for a while if she refuses and wait until she is ready, becasue if you are trying to push this on her to learn reading, she will hate it later on...or immediately.

Try to talk with her: at this age, she is able to hint (if not, actually tell you) why she may be having difficulty in:
-concentration
-embarassment/shyness in school
-recent crisis around her daily life
-eyesight
-speech
-hearing
-fatigue
-stress
-self esteem
-her personal explanation the problem
-if she believes there is a problem, or she is unaware.

Do not confront her in a way that is threatening or blaming.

This may not be in her control, or she may not even realize how far behind she may be.

Do not use explanations that may cause her to panic or get upset.

*Assuming she has read/looked at or has been read to, around you, \/ Analyze this yourself. \/

First thing to do before anything: Analyze this yourself:
1) If you have a reading time (bedtime?) tell her to choose one of her favorite books.

2) Tell/beg her that YOU "really want HER to read it" to you.
This should hopefully help you notice her point of view by her reactions...
Angry: Back off. Talk about this later (and possibly with helpful advice from services at her school)

Upset: Talk her out of her nervousness by letting it all out. What is really bothering her? Listen to her.

Ignores: If she acts as if she never heard you, or changes the subject, she is most likely embarassed/shy and realizes she has difficulty in reading. (Talk to services at her school)

Nonchalant:
Pretends to Read: No problem. Listen enthusiastically and be proud of her. She's very intelligent! ;) This is perfectly normal when learning to read!

Reads word-word-word (as you explained):
-don't correct this time, simply listen.
-if she hesitates/stutters on the word, write down each sound she makes while writing the actual word next to the sounds.
-show these written sounds to services (speech-related or curriculum)


*A child's difficulty in school should be taken seriously, no matter what kind.

*PEDIATRICIAN*If you are skeptical of someone labeling your child with a learning/reading disability, talk about your concerns with her pediatrician. They should give an honest answer of how you can help your child, without forcing her to be tested...resulting in being labeled.

Answer 2

We had exactly the same problem with out son. I loved the little books at TAPS, they are like $1.50 a piece or you can buy all of them at once. They vary from VERY easy to kindergarten age. I also bought a game from Target called "spell time" where they had letter tiles with little nubs on the bottom and these word cards. The kids have to put the tiles on the cards, but only the right tiles will fit. Honestly though, my son was reading VERY little at the end of Kindergarten and even thought I worked with him in the summer, wasn't really reading at the start of first grade. However, it's nearing the end of first grade and he's in the top reading group and reading chapter books. He just had to be ready in his own time.

Also, we did discover that he was resting his head in his hand when he was reading, so I took him to a Developmental eye doctor (not many around but worth a drive to find one) and after a little testing (about $100) discovered that his eyes were working independantly of each other. A simple pair of bifocals and he flourished and quite having headaches!

Good luck!

Answer 3

School has changed a lot since I was in kinder. They have computers instead of blocks and there is no more nap time. No more follow the leader and duck duck goose.

Go to the drug store, CVS or something, and go to the aisle where they have books/novels etc. They have workbooks and flash cards for children. I use the books and the flash cards with my kids and they help a whole lot. You can even buy some plain index cards and ask her teacher for a list of sight words. This is the list of words that your daughter is supposed to know in order to pass to the next grade. Get that list and make your own index cards. Then set out some cards that make a sentence, but shuffle them up and let your daughter put them together in order. Make a game out of it and have fun with her. Don't make it too much work or too serious because she will get frustrated and lose interest.

Good luck.

Answer 4

I feel for you... You are a good parent for worrying! I have issues with retention. I am a teacher and have studied the adverse affects of retention. It not only affects a child's self-esteem but their ability to perceive him/herself as a life long learner can be hindered. Children that are retained in school have a much more higher rate of dropping out, teen pregnancy, and the list goes on. Kid's that are in need of extra help can spend more time before or after school getting specialized instruction in areas of deficit instead of making up a HOLE year. BESIDES, who said that your daughter needs to be reading sentences before she enters 1st grade? Just remember that reading isn't just about the letters on the page, teach your daughter to take meaning from the pictures. It will help her make correct judgments about print. Also, choose books that have text patterning and work on sight words. Don't worry too much, just stay involved!

Answer 5

flunking Kindergarten! heck, when I taught Kindergarten in the 80's the only way you flunked was due to an overall low performance and a lack of ability to keep up with the schoolwork. but reading!!!!! they are not developmentally ready to read at age 6!!!!!!! yes, some kids get it, some don't. what needs to be taught first are the basics. I mean rhyming (cat/hat), then words with similar beginning/end sounds (pie, pig) (scare/chair), and so on. Those are the basics tor reading. Dr. Seuss books are great for this. If she is successful with rhyming and identifying similar sounds, then go on to identifying sounds of individual letters. And here is the freebie tip of the day, because of the "No Child Left Behind" act your child is eligible for free tutoring services. contact your districts special education services department, most deny these services are available to you. (It is the law for districts to provide this!) a last resort is go to Sylvan services, they usually do a great job of tutoring, and offering advice to parents. good luck! below are two links, one for the dept of ed tutoring info, and one for a clip on the program. what a great mom! go for it!

Answer 6

The best thing you can do is read with her at home, it's okay if she is a little behind. Is there a remedial class at school? It's a little extreme that they are holding her back for her inability to read well. I remember when I was that young they offered Summer School programs that helped a lot. One of my friends couldn't read because she had problems seeing. Get all of these things checked, just in case. You aren't a careless mother, you seem very interested in helping your child. Don't allow them to influence you to hold your child back, because she can and will catch up. It could be that she is just not ready to read. Read with her at home, I also recommend Hooked on Phonics. Have her read books to you, and you read them to her. At bedtime, tell her that if she read a book to you, then you'll read one back to her. When you are reading to her, have her follow the words with her finger so that she can recognize the words. That may help you.

Good Luck.

Answer 7

Most people have offered you comfort and encouragement. I offer you a solution: Reading Reflex is a $16 book available at larger bookstores and online (amazon link below.)
Though I don't agree with your school district holding a Kindergartener back for lack of reading ability, I still offer this solution.
I have the book, and am quite impressed with it. I have used it to teach my 4yr 3mo old daughter to read. (She'll not enter K for another year and a half and by then should be well beyond her peers.)
The book encompasses phonemic awareness skills as well as basic to advanced reading instruction. There is a small skills test you can give your child to determine where she is, and where to begin instruction. (Email me privately, and I will send this to you.)
If you commit to working with your child for 20-30 minutes several times a week, I am sure you will see a huge improvement in her ability before the close of school.
Blessings to you and your family.

Answer 8

my niece repeated kindergarten. she could barely read and did not understant math. the reason she did not do well the first time was because she was on the younger side for kindergarten. she also had no interest in reading. my whole family now plays games to help her study, rewards her for reading books outside of school, and also makes games out of homework. she is in second grade now and has been getting hundreds on spelling tests and asks to go to borders to buy books with her allowance. there is no quick fix, things will fall into place. theres no shame in repeating. all you can really do is encourage learning and make it fun.

Answer 9

My son is in kindergarden also and I also did not know reading was a requirement. As with you, I remember playing and coloring in KA. Anyway, we have always read to my son and he now has no problems reading. My son is dylexic so it makes it hard for him at times but he does really well considering. You might just plan on reading her a book everynight before bed. That will help her to recognize words and will help her to understand how to put it all together. Good luck!

Answer 10

Here is an advice, have story time with her about every 2 of 3 hour. When it is story time, tell her to repeat the sentence that is in the book over and over until she gets it. Once she gets it, tell her to read the whole sentence by herself without any help. If that doesn't work, well, just let her repeat or just try to do what is just told you HOPE THIS WORKS!!!!!!